Sampling device



March 25, 1941. I J 5 LosEE Q1 1 SAMPLING DEVICE Filed June 19,, 1940 IN VENTOR.

dose ofzdLosee BY H @maw,

A7708 NE K Patented Mar. 25, 1941 2,236,063

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAMPLING DEVICE Joseph S. Lesce, Hebron, Ill.

Application June 19, 1940, Serial No. 341,398

9 Claims. (Cl. 137-18) My invention relates in general to the sam- Figure is a sectional view taken substantially pling of fluids for testing purposes and has more along the line 5-5 in Figure 3. particular reference to the provision of a handy To illustrate the invention, I have shown on device for sampling milk and like liquids. the drawing a sampling device ll particularly An important object of the invention is to well adapted for use in sampling milk for test 5 provide a simple, inexpensive, readily sterilized purposes. Milk is ordinarily tested at the redipper for taking samples of liquid such as milk ceiving stations at which raw milk is delivered, for testing purposes; a further object being to usually in large cans, by the producer. Testing form and arrange the sampler to facilitate transis accomplished by obtaining a sample from each fer of sampled liquid therefrom to a test tube or can as it is delivered, the samples being imme- 10 similar container in which to subject the sample diately subjected to tests before the contents to testing processes. of the can are dumped into a common receiving Another important object is to provide a samtank. pler comprising a container having a mouth sized Under the circumstances, the sampling and to fit within the opening of a test tube to facilitesting necessarily have to be accomplished rap- 15 tate transfer of sampled liquid from the samidly in order not to delay the delivery of milk pling device to the test tube; a further imporby successive producers who may be waiting in tant object being to provide, on the sampling line to deliver their loads at the receiving stadevice, means forming a shoulder to determine tion.

and limit the extent to which the mouth of To aid, facilitate and expedite the sampling of the sampling container may be inserted within milk in cans, and to facilitate the transfer of the test tube in transferring the sampled fluid milk samples to milk testing equipment, I have to the latter. provided a sampler of slender configuration well Another important object is to provide, on the suited for insertion through the relatively resainpling container, aligning means for aiding stricted top opening of a milk can in order to in the support of a test tube or like testing conobtain a milk sample, the device also being usetainer on the sampling device during liquid transable to stir the contents of the can prior to the for therefrom to the test tube. taking of a sample. To this end, the sampler ll Another important object is to provide a samcomprises a preferably cylindrical container I3 :20 ling device comprising arelatively slender, prefhaving a closed bottom. I5 and an open top H, O

erably cylindrical dipper having a mouth sized said top being of a size to fit readily within the to fit within the open end of a test tube or like open end of a standard test tube 19 of the sort container, and a handle on the dipper in posiused as a testing receptacle, such tube ordinarily tion forming a shoulder adjacent the mouth and comprising a cylindrical glass member closed at forming a stop to limit the insertion of the dipone end and open at the other, the opening being per into the end of the test tube, the handle defined by a beaded edge 2|. The cylindrical also forming steadying means for aiding in recontainer [3 preferably is of a size to contain taining a'test tube on the sampling device durexactly the quantity of milk required for testing ing transfer therefrom of a test sample into the purposes and is formed with an elongated handle test tube. 23 preferably comprising a rectangular bar curled 40 These'and numerous other important objects, at one end to form a hook 25, and connected at advantages, and inherent functions of the intheother end on the side of the container l3, vention will be more fully understood from the the hook serving as means for hanging the samfollowing description, which, taken in connecpling device either on the top of a milk can or on 5 tion with the accompanying drawing, discloses ahook when not in use. l he container connecta preferred embodiment of the invention. ed end of the handle 23 is offset, as at 21, to Referring to the drawing: form a portion 29 which may be fastened in any Figure l is a perspective view ofasampling desuitable preferred or convenient manner to the vice embodying my present invention; side of the container l3, the portion 29 being Go Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a secured on the container in position such that portion of the device shown in Figure 1; the offset portion 21 forms a shoulder spaced be- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantialhind and facing toward the open end of the conly along the line 3-3 in Figure 2; tainer.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially By grasping the handle 23 and inserting the along the line 4-4 in Figure and container [3 into the open top of a milk can,

the container l3 may first be used to stir up the milk in the can and then to take a milk sample by submerging the container in the liquid to be sampled. Upon withdrawing the sampling device, the receptacle 13 will contain the exact quantity required in performing the milk testing operation. Thereupon the test tube l9 may be applied on the sampling device in the manner shown in Figure 3 of the drawing by placing the open end of the test tube around the open end I! of the container l3 with the beaded edge 2| of the test tube resting upon the shoulder defined by the handle portion 21, thereby limiting the movement of the open end of the container l3 into the test tube. I he test tube extends along and adjacent the handle 23 and may be held in place manually while the sampler is inverted to discharge its contents into the open end of the test tube, which may then be removed from the sampling device merely by dropping it on the handle sufficiently to disengage the open end of the test tube from the open end of the container 13.

In order to aid in retaining the test tube in mounted position on the sampler during the transfer of liquid from the container 13 into the test tube, I prefer to form the handle 23 with means for holding the test tube in place and, to this end, have shown holding means 3| forming a seat for receiving the closed end of the test tube and holding the same in place when the tube is mounted on the sampler in position to receive sampled liquid therefrom. In the illustrated embodiment, the holding means 3| comprises a preferably sheet metal clip mounted on the handle 23 and providing a pair of spaced-apart arms extending from the handle in position to embrace the opposite sides of the test tube when the same is in mounted position on the sampling device. This clip 31 need not necessarily grip the test tube but may operate purely as a guide to aid in the positioning of the test tube on the sampling device, the hand of the operator serving to retain the .test tube in position on the handle. However, if desired, the clip 3| may be formed with resilient arms for the purpose of yieldingly gripping the sides of the test tube in order to retain the same in place.

The container [3, the handle 23 and the guide means 3| are preferably formed of non-cornoding metal, the parts being secured together as by solder fillets 28 or by welding, soldering, brazing or other preferred fastening method; and it will be seen that the sampling device is of extremely simple, inexpensive character and is easily maintained in hygienic condition by sterilization.

It is thought that the invention and its numerous attendant advantages will be fully understood from the foregoing description, and it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages, the form-herein disclosed being a preferred embodiment for the purpose of illustrating the invention.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. A sampling device comprising means forming a handle, .a container on said handle having an opening defined by a rim, and means on said container forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, whereby to support a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing said rim and resting on said shoulder.

2. A sampling device comprising means forming an elongated handle, a container on the end of said handle having an opening facing toward the opposite end of the handle, said opening being defined by a rim, and means forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, whereby to support a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing'said rim and resting on said shoulder.

3. A sampling device comprising means forming an elongated handle, a container on the end of said handle having an opening facing toward the opposite end of the handle, said opening being defined by a rim, and means forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, said handle forming a test tube support whereby a test tube may be mounted on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing said rim and resting on said shoulder and the body of the test tube engaging the handle at a point remote from said opening.

4. A sampling device comprising means forming an elongated handle, a container on the end of said handle having an opening facing toward the opposite end of the handle, said opening being defined by a rim, means forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, and guide means on said handle in position spaced from said opening to receive and support a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing said rim and resting on said shoulder.

5. A sampling device comprising means forming an elongated handle, a container on the end of said handle having an opening facing toward the opposite end of the handle, said opening being defined by a rim, means forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, and guide means on said handle in position spaced from said opening to receive and support a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing said rim and resting on said shoulder, said guide means comprising means forming spaced arms on said handle in position to embrace the opposite sides of the body of the test tube.

6. A sampling device comprising means forming an elongated handle, a container on the end of said handle having an opening facing toward the opposite end of the handle, said opening being defined by a rim, means forming a shoulder on said rim spaced from and facing in the direction of said opening, and guide means on said handle in position spaced from said opening to receive and support a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing said rim and resting on said shoulder, said guide means comprising a clip having resilient arms adapted to yieldingly engage the opposite sides of the body of the test tube.

7. A sampling device comprising an elongated metal strip forming a handle, and a cylindrical metal container, open at one end and closed at the other, secured on one end of said handle in position with the open end of the container facing the opposite end of said handle, the container attached end of said handle forming a shoulder spaced from and facing toward the open end of the container to form a stop for supporting a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing the open end of the container and resting on said stop.

8. A sampling device comprising an elongated metal strip forming a handle, and a cylindrical container, open at one metal container, open at one end and closed at the other, secured on one end of said handle in position with the open end of the container facing the opposite end of said handle, the container attached end of said handle forming a shoulder spaced from and facing toward the open end of the container toform a stop for supporting a test tube on the device in position with the open end of the test tube embracing the open end of the container and resting on said stop, said handle forming means extending adjacent a test tube so positioned for the purpose of supporting the test tube in place on the device.

9. A sampling device comprising an elongated metal strip forming a handle, a cylindrical metal end and closed at the other, secured on one end of said handle in position with the open end of the container facing the opposite end of said handle, the container attached end of said handle forming a shoulder spaced from and facing toward the open end of the container to form a stop for supporting a test tube on the device in position with the open end oi the test tube embracing the open end of the container and resting on said stop, and means on said handle spaced from the open end of said container and forming a seat for receiving and supporting the body of a test tube.

JOSEPH S. LOSEE. 

